Flaring tool with lost motion connection providing automatic burnishing



United States Patent Ofiice 2,893,463 jlatented July 7, 1959 FLARINGTOOL WITH LOST MOTION CONNEC- TION PROVIDING AUTOMATIC BURNISHING Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,393

4 Claims. (Cl. 153-79) This invention relates to a tube flaring tool and in particular to such a tool having integral means for burnishing the flared end of the tube subsequent to the flaring operation.

The subject matter of this invention relates specifically to yieldable means for elfectingthe burnishing operation in a flaring tool such as shown and described in the George E. Franck application, Serial No. 603,425, filed August '10, 1956.

l The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved means for eflecting a burnishing action in a flaring-tool.

Another object is to provide a flaring tool having such means contained primarily within the longitudinally movable cone-carrying member and with the operating handle fixedly secured to said member.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a tube flaring tool embodying the invention, with the end of a tube to be flared secured therein;

. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tool of Figure 1, with the elements of the tool shown in'the position assumed at the start of the flaring of the tube; l

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 2, but with the elements of the tool shown in the position assumed atthe completion of a flare on the tube;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 2, but with the elements of the tool shown in the position assumed during the automatic burnishing operation;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings, a flaring tool is shown to comprise a frame member 11, having a support portion 11a, arranged to carry a cylindrical member or sleeve 12 for threaded advancement and withdrawal relative to a tube end 20 held in a clamping means 13 carried by one portion of the frame member. A flaring cone 14 is mounted at one end of sleeve 12 to have limited longitudinal movement relative thereto, with a securing means 15 being provided to limit the movement of cone 14 away from the sleeve. To effect rotation of'sleeve 12 relative to frame 11, an operating handle 16 is fixedly secured at the opposite or outer end of sleeve 12. Received within sleeve 12 and extending between securing means 15 and operating handle 16, is a yieldable means 17 acting to urge securing means 15 outwardly from the inner end of sleeve 12 to position flaring cone 14 at a distance from the end of the sleeve. Thus, the structure of the flaring tool is such as to cause flaring cone 14 to be longitudinally and rotatively moved with sleeve 12 when the sleeve is advanced toward tube end 20, to allow flaring cone 14 to remain longitudinally fixed against the end of tube end 20 until sleeve 12 has been advanced into abutment with the cone, to eifect a concurrent longitudinal and rotative movement of the flaring cone to flare the tube end 20 upon still further advancement of sleeve 12, to eifect an automatic burnishing operation with flaring cone 14 being rotated while being held longitudinally fixed against the flared tube end during the initial threaded withdrawal of sleeve 12, and, subsequent to the burnishing action, to effect a withdrawal of flaring cone 14 from the flared and burnished tube end 20.

Frame member 11 and clamping means 13 are of conventional construction.

Sleeve 12 comprises a generally cylindrical member exteriorly threaded at 12a having a bore 12b extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a constricted noncircular end portion forming an inwardly extending shoulder 12d and opening into a cylindrical recess 12:: in the inner end 12 of the sleeve. Flaring cone 14 is provided with a stepped projection comprising a first cylindrical portion 14a having a diameter comparable to the outside diameter of sleeve 12, a second cylindrical portion 14b having a diameter comparable to the diameter of cylindrical recess 12e allowing a longitudinal sliding fit between portion 14b and sleeve 12, and a third portion having a non-circular cross section complementary to portion 120 of the sleeve bore. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, as best seen in Figure 6, the cross section of cone portion 14c and bore portion 121: is square. The cone is preferably of a faceted, chrome-plated construction providing improved tube working characteristics.

Securing means 15 comprises a threaded stud having its head 15a received in sleeve bore 12b longitudinally outwardly of squared portion 120 and urged to abut sleeve shoulder 12d by action of yieldable means 17 illustratively shown as a helical spring. The threaded shank 15b of stud 15 is fixedly secured to cone portion 140. To assure proper retention of cone portion 14b within cylindrical recess 12e, cone portion 140 is preferably of a length suflicient to dispose portion 14b at least partially in recess 12e when stud head 15a is in abutment with shoulder 12d.

While any suitable means may be provided for fixedly securing handle 16 to sleeve 12, in the illustrative embodiment of the drawings, handle 16 is provided with a boss 16a exteriorly threaded to be received in sleeve bore 12b and having an inner end 16b against which the outer end of spring 17 abuts. A pin may be passed through sleeve 12 and bore 16a to maintain the assembled relationship of the handle and the sleeve. When thus assembled, spring 17 is under compression, and it is preferred that the spring be of suflicient strength to force cone 14 against the tube end to effect a satisfactory burnishing operation.

The operation of my flaring tool is best seen by a successive reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4. In Figure 2 sleeve 12 has been threadedly advanced through frame member 11 to the point where flaring cone 14 just touches the end of tube 20. In this position, spring 17 urges stud 15 longitudinally outwardly to space the flaring cone at its maximum distance from sleeve end 12 Further advancement of sleeve 12 causes the flaring tool elements to move from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 3. During this transition the impediment afforded by tube end 20 to the longitudinal movement of flaring cone 14 first causes spring 17 to be overcome and the flaring cone to remain substantially longitudinally fixed in the position of Figure 2 until sleeve 12 has been advanced to the position where end 12 abuts cone first portion 14a. Continued advancement of sleeve 12 now moves flaring cone longitudinally as well as rotatively forcing tube end 20 to be flared outwardly until it reaches the position of Figure 3.

When the tool has reached the position of Figure 3, the flaringiQpcrat-ionzis'cornpleted. ,Handle 16:is-now rotated -in a'reverse direction effecting a threaded withdrawal of sleeve 12 through=frame member 11. However, flaring cone 14 does notmove longitudinally with sleeve 12. as the-sleeve is-initially withdrawn, but, instead, the cone is maintained in facial engagement with the flared tube end 20, 'as bestlseen in Figure 3, by the action of spring 17 through stud 15. As the flaring cone is non-rotatively connected to sleeve 12 by means of portion 14c, the flaring cone is rotated While being maintained in this forceful, facial contact with the tube end, thus. automatically burnishing the tube end. When the withdrawal of sleeve 12 reaches the-point where shoulder 12d abuts stud head 15a,.further withdrawal of sleeve 12 carries the stud and-flaring cone 14 longitudinally with it. Thus,-the flaring ,coneisremoved from theflared and burnished tubeendandthe flaringtool is arranged for a subsequent flaring and burnishing operation.

While I have shown and describedcertain embodiments of my invention, it is to'he understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made'without departing from the spirit and scope of .the,invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A tube flaring and burnishing tool comprising a frame member havingathreaded bore through one portion thereof and a support portion adapted to have a tube end supported therein in alignment with said bore, an externally threaded sleeve. engaged in said bore for rotative movement relative-t said frame member and for axial movement as an incident to-such rotative movement, said sleeve having'a bore extending longitudinally therethrough with 'a constricted, .noncircularportion intermediate the ends thereof, tube flaring means including a carrying member mounted in the constricted portion of said sleeve for movement axially thereof and a flaring cone fixed on that end ofsaid carrying member adjacent the support portion of said frame, said carrying member having a noncircular cross section conforming to the constricted, noncircular portion of thebore in said sleeve to be nonrotatable relative 'to said sleeve, means carried by the end of said carrying member opposite said flaring cone cooperating with the constriction in said sleeve bore to limit axial movement of said flaring means in a direction toward said tube support portion, means on said flaring means adapted to cooperate with the adjacent sleeve end to limit relative axial movement away from said tube support portion, a handle extending transversely across and secured to said sleeve at the end opposite said flaring means, and'a compression spring received in the bore in said sleeve and bearing at one end against said handle and at the-other end against said tube flaring means constantly urging saidtube flaring means in the direction of said tube support portion forcefully to maintain said cone urged against a tube that has been flared to effect a burnishing thereof during retracting rotation of said sleeve untilsaid flaring means'has traveled the limit of its axial movement relative to said sleeve.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the means on the end of said carrying member limiting axial movement in a direction toward said tube support portion comprises a stud having threaded engagement with said carrying member to facilitate assembly and to adjust the extent of retracting rotation of said sleeve during whichburnishing occurs.

3. The tool of claim 2, whereinsaid constricted, noncircular portion of said bore is near one end of said sleeve, said carrying member is insertable through said constricted bo-re from the end of said sleeve adjacent said constriction, and said stud and said spring are successively insertable through the opposite end of said sleeve prior to attachment of said handle.

4. The tool of claim 1, where the handle has intermediate its ends an externallythreaded boss, said sleeve at the handle receiving end is internally threaded to receive said boss, and a means locks said handle and said sleeve against'relative rotation in anassembled relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 654,461 Koester July 24, 1900 2,694,321 'Riza Nov. 16, 1954 2,707,511 Franck May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,110 Germany June 9, 1932 1,016,338 France Aug. 20, 1952 1.020.498 France Feb. 6, 1953 

